Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-12-22

disappointed face when she went out.
Finally those animals of sugar and
wood, those pink faced, straight bodied
dolls, those tin trum pets and express
wagons, were to Marg'ret as the fair ap'
plies hanging over the garden wall we're to
Christiana's sons IN the Pi9l'tm'S Progress
She gazed and gRzed, until at last the
sight and the smell of them were toe
much f4r hev.
The evening before Christmas she went
up to the post-oflice. The last mail was
in, and there was no letter for her. Then
she kept or to the store. 1t was rather
early, and there were not as yet many
customers. " ig'Iet began looking about
as usual. She might have been IN the
store ten minutes when sac suddenly no
ticed parcel on the corner of counter.
1t was nicely tied. 1t belonged evidently
either to one of the persons who were
then trading in the store or was to be de-
livered outside later. Mr. White was not
in; two of his sons and q boy clerk were
waiting upon the customers.
Marc'ret, once attracted By this parcel,
could not take her Dyes from II long. She
pored over the other wares with many
sldelong chances at it. Her thoughts
centered upon it, and her imagination.
What could be in it? To whom could it
belongs
Marg'ret Poole had always been an
honest woman She had never taken a
thing which did not belong to her in her
whole life. She suddenly experienced q
complete moral revulsion. 1t was as If
her principles where weights were made
shifty by her long watching and longing,
had suddenly gyrated in wild somer-
sault. While they we're reversed, Marg ret
warily CHANGING around, slipped that par
eel under her arm, opened the door, and
sped home.
1t was better Christmas weather than
it had been week ago. There was now
a fine level of snow, and the air was clear
and cold. Marg'ret painted as she walked.
The show creaked under her feet. She
met many people hurrying along in chat
tering groups. She wondered If they
could see the parcel under her shawl 1t
was quite large one.
When she got into her own house, she
hastened to strike light. Then she un
tied the parcel There were in it some
4 pink sugar cats and birds, two tin horses
and a little wagon, cheap doll and some
bright picture books, besides a paper of
candy.
my land said Marg ret, won't they
be- tic1led!"
There was a violent nervous shiyering
all over her stout frame. why can't
keep still said She
She got ont three OF the children's
stockings, filed them and hung them up
beside the chimney. Then she drew a
chair before the stove, and went over e
the bureau to get her Bible: she Away
read a chapter before she went to bed
Margret was not church member; she
never said anything about it, but she hac
persistent reticent sort of religion
She took up the Bible; then laid il down
{ then she took it up again with a clutch.
~ don't kerr said she, 81 'ain't don,
nothin' SO terrible ont of the way. Wha
can't be armed, when auybodys willin' tC
, work, ought TO be took. I'm goin' t.
e. wait till arter Christmas; then I'm jes
goin' up TO Mis- Whites some AFTERNOON
an I'm goin' TO say, Mis- White, says |
| the day before Christmas / went into you
husbands store, an | see a bundle a-layin
on the counter, an | took it, an saiC
nothin' to nobody. l shouldn't ha' dom
r such thing if you'd give me work, th'
way | asked you to, instead OF goin' ont
I side an buyin' things for your boys, an
! Robin honest folks of the chance I,
3 arm. Now, Mis- White, I'll tell you jus
{ what Pm willin' to do you give me some
B thin TO do, an I'll work out twice tn,
price of them things l took, au' wen cal
3 it even. II you don't, all is your busban,
{ will hev TO lose it, l wonder what shs'l
i. say to that"
70 Marg'ret said all this with her hea,
: thrown back, in a tone of indescribabl
q defiance. Then she sat down with he
: Bible ard read chapter.
The next day she watched the children
7 delight over their presents with a sort O
= a grim pleasure.
She charged them TO say nothing abou
4 them, although there was little need OF il
g Narg'ret had few visitors, and the chill
r dren were never allowed to run into tn
Z. neighbors'.
e Two days after Christmas the postmas
e ter stopped at Marg ret's house; his ow
e was just beyond
D lie handed a letter TO her. "This cam
Christmas morning. said he 81 though
- Ia bring it along on ny way home.
z know you hadn't been in for two or tire
days, and / thought you were eXpectin
a letter.
1 THANK ye," said Margret. She pulle
o the letter open and saw there was som
money in it. She turned very white.
Hope you amt got any bad news,
r said the postmaster.
IA ono, | amt" After he had gone sh
d sat down and read her letter with he
knees shaking.
o Joseph Snow had at last got goo
r situation. He was earning fifty dollars
Il month. There was twenty dollars in tn
f letter. he promised TO send her that SUI
g regularly every month.
e Five dollars week" gasped Marg' e
"My laad! Ar I've stole"
n She sat there looking az the money
z her lap. II was quite late; the childre
f had been in bed along time. Finally sh
put away the money, and vent hersel
e She did not read in her Bible that nigh
n She could not 90 TO sleep. IL was bi
1t terly cold. The old timbers Of the bous
2 cracked. Now and then there was a shar
d report like pistol. There was pom
Z. near by, and great crashes came frol
is that. Marg'ret might have been, frol
"a the noise, il the midst Of a csnnonede,